Optimizing the diameter and curvature radius of a seed tube in pressurized pneumatic planting machines

This study aimed to determine the effects of the diameter and curvature shape of a planter’s seed tube on the uniformity of seed distribution and deviation from the cultivation line. The effects of tube diameter (at four levels, ۵, ۷, ۹, and ۱۱ mm) and tube curvature radius (at three levels, ۵, ۱۵, and ۲۰ cm) were investigated on the quality of the seed distribution. The location of the seeds distributed by the planter was obtained by image processing techniques. The results revealed that the diameter and curvature radius of the seed tube did not have significant effects on the uniform distribution of seeds in the travel direction. However, the effects of both factors and their interaction were significant (P < ۰.۰۱) on the deviation of seed locations from the cultivation row. Response surface methodology (RSM) was then utilized to optimize the average distance of the seeds in travel and its perpendicular directions. According to the results, the distance of the planted seeds can be optimized with high desirability rates (≈ ۱) based on the design parameters of pressurized pneumatic planters. Finally, the results showed that the partial least squares (PLS) method could efficiently predict the average distance of the seeds having the diameter and curvature radius of the seed tube with an R۲ value equal to ۰.۹۹

Keywords:

response surface methodology , image processing , cylinder distributor , uniform distribution , partial least squares